Well this week I took my first ever Qantas codeshare on Emirates in first class from Dusseldorf to Dubai, and it was fantastic.

Until now I have been an avid fan of QF F (and I have by now flown in F on many different airlines), but this EK F flight was something else....a great crew, 3 passengers for 2 outstanding crew, the suites were fantastic and very private. I loved being able to close the doors, being back on QF F from Dubai felt open.

But the thing that really made the flight so "first class" was the menu - including caviar, and a great menu with western and Arabic dishes. The wine list was sensational.... Dom Perignon after take off, and the Chateau Palmer with the beef was a great way to fly over a darkened Europe. It almost felt like you were on the flying orient express! The vasse felix on the wine list on QF 10 somehow did not compare after this.

Things I didn't like so much, I though the Qantas inflight entertainment was better than the Emirates ICE. ICE offers content in many different languages, and QF offered more and more recent English content. Also the new Qantas first pyjamas are better than the Emirates first pyjamas, but the Emirates amenities kit is better.

Although after being away for a while there is nothing nicer to step onto a Qantas aircraft, there is no doubt that the Emirates first class is a better product than the Qantas first class, as good as that product is.

It is a great opportunity now that QF is affiliated with EK to be able to travel on EK more regularly, it is certainly better option for Australian customers than the previous arrangement.